Impeoyement is sap-buckets



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Vmarked.-thereoinforming part of this specification, in which- Letters Ptcnt No. 76,168, dated M'm'ch 3l, 1868 IMPROVEMENT IN SAI-BUCKETS.

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T0 ALL WHM Il MAY CONOERN:

Bc it known that I, '.I. W; CUitnrE/R, oi' Newbury, in Grange county, and'State oiVcrinont, have inventedv a. new und useful Improvement in Supl3uckets; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description` thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, through letters of reference Figure 1 represents a bucket, as applied to a tree for Ythe purpose of catching the snp, with my improvement attached. y I

Figure 2 represents a top view ofthevsume, the bucket being shown in red outline.

Figure 3 is a view 'of my improved attachment from thetree-side.-

In tapping maple and other trees to obtain the saccharine and other juices, for the purpose of extracting the sugar, &c., therefrom, itis usual to do'so'enrly in the season, before the sap begins torise, and at such-season the rigo!l and severity of the winter have not entirely subsided, but frequently snow storms and rains are'iexperiencd after vegetation has commenced, in which case, the ordinary open bucket, suspended on the tree, will become filled with snow or rain, which must et' necessity be evaporated before the pure sup can be condensed to e solid state. i

Theobject of my invention is to provide n shieldor cover to the bucket, supported on and connected there'- with in such manner that whilstit will shed all the falling snow or rain, the bucket may be perfectly accessible for-examination, or discharging itscontents,uwithout detaehing the cover.

To'enuble others to make and useiny invention, I will proceed to describe it by referring to the drawing, in which the same letter, appearing inthe several tigures, indicates the saine part.

A represents an ordinary or any suitable bucket suspended on the side cfu tree in any convenient manner. A few inches above the upper edge of the bucket,the tree is tapped, by driving into'it'a suitable spile, Il, for drawing therefrom the sap, as it rises in the spring of the year, and causing it to flow into the bucket. On the top of the bucket I providea cover, C, arranged on an incline, resting on the edge of the bucket at its 4lower or outer cdge,and supported, at about two-thirds of the dinnreter ofthe bucket therefrom, by a bridge.v D', secured to its under Sideyandsuitably formed' on its lower edge to rest upon theedges ot' the bucket, without liability of slipping to either side. The upper or inner edge of tliis coveij() is curved, inwardly or concave, as shown in fig. 2, to such an extent us to tit the average diameter of trees to which it muy bc ,desired to apply it. This cover isrthen connected with thc bucket by spiral or other'suitable springsE, attached to the edge of thc cover at u suitable point between the cuter edge ofthe bucket and thebridge D, the lower ends of these springs extending to andhqoking onto the lower edge of the bucket-Steves, or on to studs, suitably arranged on the sides of said bucket. It is obvious that any other suitable style of spring maybe substituted for that. represented, und be'attttched by studs, staples, or other convenient means. f

In using this device, thc tree is tapped, andthe bucket suspended thereto in the usual or any convenient manner.l lThe cover C is then applied, with its outer edge resting upon the edge of the bucket, its inner concave edge fitting, as near as may bc,'nround the side of the tree, und its bridge D resting on the edge ofthe bucket. When in this position the springs E are. drawn down, and hooked on thel bottoni of thc bucket or other device providedfor that purpose.

Dn exzirnining thc contents of the bucket, thc cover C may be pulled slightly away from thc tree, and its lower edge be raised, using the bridge D as a fulcrum, thus affording ample space for inspect-ion, or for baling o'ut the bucketi f desired, without removing it from the tree. This cover will effect-nelly protect the bucket from lthe entrance of snow or rain, and against the interference o f animals.

Having thus described my invention, what I cia-im as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y Y 4The cover @provided with a bridge or suppoit,D,and springs E,for attachment to a bucket, all arranged, combined, and operating substantially as shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my name in' presence of two subscribing witnesses, this-18th day of February, 1868.

' J. W. CURRIER.

Witnesses:

HUGH DONNELLY, J AMES KIRKHAM. 

